Richard Mille celebrates nature and adventure with Charles Dubouloz, the up-and-coming star of French mountaineering
In the realm of mountaineering, where nature reveals its raw and extreme beauty, a new star has emerged. Richard Mille proudly welcomes Charles Dubouloz to its family as its first-ever mountaineer ambassador. Dubouloz is making waves in his field, scaling new heights and conquering new routes across the globe, including the treacherous peaks of the Nepalese Himalayas.
Dubouloz garnered widespread attention in January 2022 when he took on the infamous Rolling Stones: this formidable climb, nestled within the Grandes Jorasses Mont Blanc massif in France, has long been regarded as one of the most challenging ascents. Dubouloz is the first person to take it on solo, and in winter: his historic climb, navigating the perilous north face amidst bone-chilling temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius, took him six gruelling days.
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Born and raised in Annecy, an Alpine town in Southeast France, Dubouloz’s fascination with the towering Alps bloomed naturally. When asked about his motivation to conquer those peaks, he says, “It was actually the need to channel some of my boundless energy. I like to push the limits in everything I do—mountains offer me a canvas to express myself fully.” His sentiments mirror those of fellow Richard Mille brand ambassador and free diver Arnaud Jerald, as they both feel a connection with the elements in their respective disciplines. “Arnaud and I align ourselves to the vertical. Though at opposite ends of the spectrum, we both find osmosis with the elements at their most primal,” Dubouloz says.
It is this passion for testing limits that drew Dubouloz to the Swiss luxury watch brand. “There’s something inherently extreme about Richard Mille watches, much like the elemental landscapes in which I immerse myself,” he says, explaining that he appreciates the watchmaker’s unique creativity and designs engineered for uncompromising technical performance. Time plays a major role for an alpinist—but can also feel like it has no meaning. “One single moment [in the mountains] can last forever, or a whole day can disappear in an instant. Fear is a factor. Without fear, mountaineering would be meaningless. Fear connects you to the ‘now.’ The day I have no fear, I’ll stop climbing.”